Collapsible box



March 30, 1954 Filed Aug. 27, 1948 E. LA BOMBARD 2,673,679

COLLAPSIBLE BOX 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 w cle t'fm March 1954 L. E. LA BOMBARD COLLAPSIBLE BOX 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1948 0m m W; m 4 i M5, t L

March 30, 1954 E. LA BOMBARD 2,673,679

COLLAPSIBLE BOX Filed Aug. 27, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Marci; 3U,Ig54 L. E. LA BOMBARD 2,673,679

COLLAPSIBLE BOX Filed Aug. 27, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. L mm 5 lflfiammw BYQLQ u W K;

Patented Mar. 30, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to containers or boxes made of sheet material and more particularly to collapsed boxes and set up boxes erected therefrom made of cardboard and the like such as candy boxes which are manufactured and then shipped folded fiat and set up as completed boxes by the user. I

The usual collapsed box is cut out of a box blank of sheet material such as cardboard in one or two fiat pieces and then glued or otherwise fastened together into a preliminary shape or collapsed structure which can be shipped flat and then erected in the form of a finished box by the user. However, in erecting the usual collapsed box several essential hand folding operations on some of its parts are also necessary by the user to get it into the shape of the erected box, and this is complicated and requires time and dexterity.

Accordingly the general object of this invention is to provide an improved collapsed and set up box formed from a box blank of sheet material, which, when erected or set up makes a stronger and more quickly erected box and a method of making it.

This invention provides a reinforced collapsed and set up box and method of making it in which the most essential and complicated folding operations are completed before the work piece or box blank is fastened together as a preliminary structure or collapsed box and which, while still capable of being shipped flat, can then be erected by the user in a much quicker and simpler hand operation than has heretofore been possible. Essentially the invention provides a collapsed box which, to erect as a completed box by the user, requires only unfolding hand operation rather than a series of complicated folding, unfolding and adjusting operations as heretofore required, and in which the structure is strengthened by fastening some of its parts together in the manner further described. The erected box is stronger and will not collapse while it is being filled, a fault inherent in many boxes heretofore known.

The drawings show several modifications of the improved novel collapsed box manufactured according to my invention and illustrate the meth- 0d of making them. The examples of the collapsed boxes illustrated herein are not intended in their particular details of construction to limit the scope of this invention beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a box erected from a collapsed box of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an outline view of a work piece for forming a one-piece collapsed box according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a partial view of a further stage of completion of the collapsed box of the invention;

Fig. 4. is an outline view of the collapsed box of Fig. 3 in a further stage of completion.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the collapsed box of the invention with part of its structure erected as a completed box;

Fig. 6 is an outline view of the collapsed box completed according to the invention and in condition for flat shipment;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing a step in the erection of a completed box;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the completed box erected from the collapsed box of the invention;

Fig. 9 is an outline view of the work pieces for a modified form of a two piece collapsed box of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a partial outline view of a stage in the completion of the collapsed box of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view from behind of a completed box with the cover broken away erected from the collapsed box of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an outline view of the work pieces for another modified form of two piece collapsed box of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view from behind of a completed box with the cover broken away erected from the collapsed box of Fig. 12.

In the drawings a box erected by the user from a collapsed box constructed according to this invention is indicated at l in Fig. 1. It has a cover 2, a bottom 3,. two end walls l5 and 2| having end flaps 22, a front wall 24 and a back wall 8. The cover 2 has a flap 1 which is inserted behind the front wall 6 when the flap is used to secure the cover in closed position.

A flat work piece or box blank formed as a developed shape for making the collapsed box of this invention may be cut from sheet material such as cardboard or the like in the usual manner and the collapsed box may be formed from one or more pieces or blanks of the material. Such a box blank is indicated at [0 in Fig. 2 and it is formed in this case from a single piece of material. Its parts may include a cover 2 with its flap 1, a bottom 3, a pair of inner end walls I2, an inner front wall M, a back wall 8, a gluing tab l1 and an elongated portion 20 including end walls l5 and 2| which have flaps 22 and a front wall 24. Fig. 2 shows the elongated portion 20 as an integral extension from the back wall 8 but it may obviously be also formed as a separate portion overlapping and glued to the back wall 3 to reinforce the latter making it in effect a double wall. Alternatively the portion 20 may be integral as shown and the bottom 3 may be conveniently formed so as to overlap the back wall preferably inside the box with the hinge or crease as shown thus also reinforcing the back. The front walls l4 and 24 and back wall 8 are also herein designated as side walls, having reference particularly to a box in which the cover may be omitted or in which the position of the cover may be reversed with respect to the other parts of the box.

In collapsed boxes in the prior art made from similar blanks the end 26 of the portion 25 is first glued or otherwise secured to the gluing tab ll forming a four sided collapsible front, back and end structure with the four sided struc ture comprising the parts 8, l5, 2! and 24 laid flat but with no other parts folded, when completed and ready for shipping. In order to erect the final box from such a collapsed box of the prior art it is then necessary to perform all of the following steps by hand. The front and end walls [5, 2| and 24 are first erected forming a four sided structure with the back wall 8. Then the inner end walls l2 have to be folded over against the bottom 3. Then the inner front wall [4 is folded over against the latter (or vice versa) Then the bottom 3 including the folded inner walls l2 and 14 have to be carefully pushed up through the four sided structure of the front, back and ends with the bottom 3 flush with the bottom edges of the portions l5, 2% and 24%. This is a step which requires skill and dexterity. Then the inner end and front walls l2 and l t are opened out against the end walls 25 and E5 and the front wall 24 respectively to form a completed box all of which takes a number of hand a operations by the user and the consumption of some time.

According to the present invention in providing a collapsed box which is more easily erected I may first start with the box blank [0 as shown in Fig. 2. I then fold the inner end walls l2 against the bottom 3 as in Fig. 3 from their original position shown in dotted lines to their position shown in full lines. I then fold the corners 13 of the inner front wall i4 diagonally along the lines l8 which have been creased when the blank was formed (Fig. 2), so that they assume the position shown in Fig. 3. The corners 13 of the inner front wall M are each then attached to an inner end wall 12 as by gluing patches of material !9 between and across their edges. I then fold the bottom 3 including its folded adjoining parts along the creased line 30 and over against the back 8 and cover 2 with the inner end walls i2 interposed between them so that the collapsed box now has the appearance shown in Fig. 4. After thus first folding the blank I!) I then glue the end 26 to the tab ll so that the collapsed box has the appearance shown in Fig. 6. The resulting foursided structure comprising the inner front and end walls 24, I5 and 2| attached to the back wall 8 have now also been collapsed and laid fiat against the bottom 3 and the collapsed box It is complete according to my invention and ready for shipment.

When the user receives the collapsed box he has merely to open out the four sided structure comprising the front and end walls 2 3, If: and 2E and the back wall 8 as shown in Fig. 5 and then to push the bottom 3 down and into the four sided structure in the direction indicated by the arrow Fig. 5. As a result of this motion the box erects itself in the following manner: The inner front wall l4 drags over the edge of the front wall 24 and erects itself inside and against the latter as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. At the same time the inner end walls l2 and the corners I3 of the inner front wall l4 erect themselves automatically in a springing out motion against the front wall 24 and end walls I5 and 2| in the direction indicated by the arrows (Figs. '7 and 8).

It will now be seen that the diagonally foldable corners l3 and end walls [2 form strong hinges 50 in the front corners of the erected box and reinforce its structure and prevent it from collapsing. Hand erection of the completed box takes place all in one quick motion and without the additional folding; fitting and adjusting necessary in the box blanks heretofore provided.

At Fig. 9 is shown a modified form of the original work piece for the collapsed box. It is formed of two pieces of material. One piece Ida has a cover 2a and its fiap la, a bottom 3a, inner end walls l2a and inner front wall 14a. a back wall 8a, and two end gluing tabs 15a. The other work piece is a portion 29a comprising a front wall 24a and two end walls 2 la with their fiaps 22a. In this modification the ends or corners 311 of the inner front wall Ma are elongated and extended flush with the inner wall l2a as seen in Fig. 9. When the corners l3a are creased and folded diagonally along the lines l8a and the inner end walls i211 are folded over against the bottom 3a the corners l3a are then partly in juxtaposition with the tabs l2a as seen in Fig. 10 and can then be fastened to them as by gluing to make a very strong joint. The hinge portions Ella may be reinforced if desired, as by gluing on reinforcing patches I911. The piece Illa is first folded along the creased line 30a after the inner walls I21; and Ida have been folded and secured together as described over and against the bottom 3a in the same manner as is the blank described above and then the ends 26a of the portion 23a are glued to the tabs [5a forming the four sided structure comprising the back wall 8a, the end walls 2 la and the front wall 24a. This modification has the appearance shown in Fig. 11 when erected and ready for use.

A second modification is shown in Fig. 12 in which the inner end walls 121) are shortened as are the corners or ends 13b of the inner front wall Mb giving the advantage in a two piece box blank as shown of saving stock while at the same time providing the feature of partial juxtaposition of the corners I32) and the inner end walls [22) for a strong glued joint when the parts are folded as hereinabove described. Such a box has the appearance shown in Fig. 13 when erected and ready for use.

All of the novel collapsed and erected boxes shown and described herein may be made up from one or two piece box blanks and secured in the manner indicated.

The great advantage of the collapsed and set up boxes provided by this invention is that their hand erection by the user is much simpler and quicker than is possible with those of the prior art, and the additional corner hinges provided by joining the inner walls together in various ways give a great deal of added strength to the completed box. Since the set up box is a double walled structure, the diagonal creasing of the inner wall is hidden from view making a box of good appearance. The uncreased outside structure supports the inner structure and the inner and outer walls cooperate in such a manner that when erected, the inside structure is rigidly locked into position against the outer structure.

I claim:

1. A set up box formed from sheet material comprising at least two outer side walls and two outer end walls, said parts being fastened to each other with hinge joints, a bottom fastened along one of its edges to one of the outer side walls with a hinge joint, an inner side wall fas-- tened to the opposite edge of the bottom with a hinge joint, said inner side wall lying flat against and inside one of said outer side walls in erected condition, a pair of inner end respectively to opposite ends of the bottom with hinge joints, said inner end walls lying against and inside said respective outer end walls in erected condition, tire inner end walls also being fastened respectively to opposite ends of the said inner side wall with hinge joints, the upper outside corners of the said inner side wall being diagonally foldably creased thereby permitting said inner end walls and said corners of the inner side wall to be erected from a substantially flatly collapsed folded condition after said parts have been fastened to each other with said hinge joints, the said inner walls tending to lock each other against the respective outer walls in a rigid erected condition.

2. The set up box as set forth in claim 1 in which part of the portion forming the end wall structure overlaps the side wall to which the bottom is fastened.

3. The set up box as set forth in claim 1 in which part of the portion forming the bottom overlaps the side wall to which it is fastened.

4. The set up box as set forth in claim 1 and a cover fastened to the top of one of said side walls with a hinge joint.

5. A. collapsed box in condition for flat shipment composed of creased and folded sheet material and comprising outer front, back and end walls secured to each other to form a collapsible four-sided structure, a bottom hinged to the back wall and an inner front wall and two inner end walls hinged to the bottom, the inner front wall being creased diagonally near its ends to permit it to be folded at the corners, thereby forming foldable corners thereof, the two inner end walls each being hinged to a respective foldable corner of the inner front wall, the inner end walls and the respective corners to which they are hinged when the box is in collapsed condition being folded over flat against the bottom and extended inner front wall forming a flatly folded bottom and inner Wall structure, and said flatly folded bottom and inner wall structure being as a whole folded over and lying flat against the back wall with the collapsible four-sided structure lying flat against the bottom.

LEON E. LA BOMBARD.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

